CTYI - Primary School Students' Saturday Courses

This class aims to provide an introduction to modern/contemporary styles of art and design, through a range of practical techniques.

Working with a variety of materials, the focus is on the idea that modern art disregards rules, and encourages play. 

Beginning with early twentieth century art the class progresses by looking at a different artist/movement every week. This provides a format for the practical work which varies from painting to model and collage making. 

Techniques covered include collage, painting from life and creating from found materials. This is accompanied by designing and making objects from paper fashion to functional clay pieces.

Have you heard of Dolly the Sheep? Did you know that some animals have now been cloned? 

Biotechnology is all around us, with our food being altered by science to taste nicer and look better, with our medicines and hospital procedures using biotechnology to save lives, as well as futuristic diagnostic kits to tell you whether you have a disease before you even get sick! 

This course will introduce students to biotechnology as well as getting them to debate the pros and cons of this new science. 

Students will also get a chance to carry out some experiments including growing microorganisms, looking at their own bacteria- from their skin - on agar plates and extracting DNA from fruit. 

The human body is full of secrets, from the gory to the glorious. In this course, we will uncover some of those secrets like: why does it hurt when you fall? How do we hear? How do we speak? How do our muscles work? And most importantly, what happens when something goes wrong? 

We will be examining the human body as well as the brain to help understand why we are the way we are. Fun practical activities will be included.

You've read the book, you've watched the film - and they differ dramatically. Libraries are like sweet-shops to film-makers! 

This course will look at the many books that have been rejuvenated in film.

Students will study the process of script writing, story editing, character building, film development - essentially how film makers take a piece of text and translate it into a workable, visual masterpiece. 

Students will also work backwards, taking films that began as scripts and develop written excerpts.

Learn how books like Harry Potter or Charlie & the Chocolate Factory transformed to the silver screen. 

This course is not Film Studies. It's not Imaginative Writing. It's a very interesting mixture of the two! Parents should note that age appropriate excerpts from films rated G, PG and 12A, according to IFCO, will be shown on this course.

This is a practical “hands-on” course. Students will have the opportunity to explore a range of experimental elements of chemistry from basics such as solutions and mixtures to the speed of reactions and the structure of chemical bonds. 

Everybody loves cracking codes to solve problems. This course will look at various secret codes that are used widely in society today. Students will get the chance to participate in code cracking games and also to develop their own codes to encrypt their own secret information. This course is a must for people who love solving puzzles and are interested in the magical secrets of numbers and codes.

Have you ever wondered how computer games are made and if you could make your own game? Come on this course and you will indeed get to make your own games as well as learning some of the basics of the

technology behind the games. Platform, adventure and arcade games are just some of the types that will be made and discussed.

This course will teach the fundamentals of Computers focusing on Computer Programming through the creation of basic programmes, games and animations. It will take advantage of two freely available education oriented tools; Scratch and Alice.

Have you ever thought about writing your own book? 

A new epic unlike anything the world has seen or just a simple story for your enjoyment? Have you ever thought that the stories, ideas and images in your head belong on paper for yourself or others to enjoy? Is the next great novel waiting inside you just itching to get out? 

Then this is the course for you, in this course you will learn the basics and methods of writing, such as the structure of stories, the ways a plot can develop, making your characters seem really, well, real. This is your chance to put your words to paper! 

This exciting course explores the amazing world of futuristic science and biotechnology. 

Ever wondered what it would be like to be cloned? How to use stem cells to grow a new arm? How is food genetically modified and does it taste different? How can we use DNA to treat diseases? Ever thought about how infectious diseases are spread or how many different types of bacteria are on your shoe? 

If you are interested in finding out the answers to these questions this course will cover all these topics and many more. Students who have previously taken Science of Tomorrow should note that this course is very similar and will cover much of the same material.

This course aims to introduce students to some of the core principles underlying the study of engineering. Engineers are important to many things that shape the world around us such as the design of computer chips, rocket science and advanced technology. 

There will be a practical element to this course, with students constructing their own bridges and examining engineering in everyday life.

This exciting course will give students the chance to study forensics.

Students will get the chance to solve a forensic mystery and also to explore various aspects of physical science.

Do you create your own posters? Or dream of seeing your advertisement in a magazine? Then this course is for you! 

All around us in the world today graphic designers have created advertisements, logos, posters etc. through the use of words and pictures to spread messages to us. 

Through looking at its origins and seeing how it has changed over the years, this exciting course will give students the opportunity to use both traditional and technological means in the highly interactive process of generating their very own graphic design! 

Delve deep into the past in this gruesome, gory but highly fascinating course. 

Uncover the world’s most historic events and era’s in a way like you have never learnt them before! 

This course aims to explore the most ghastly times in history from the ‘Unruly Romans’ to the ‘Wicked World Wars’ and beyond. 

Through using both books and interactive technologies students can expect to be brought back to those terrible times- history never has been so horrid!

This course will introduce our younger students to lasers, where through simple applications they will see how lasers function, and get some idea of their multiple uses in science and healthcare. 

It will also study light, and conduct numerous experiments and demonstrations to help explain it. As well as explaining how light enables us to see, the course will then look at optical illusions, and how they manage to confuse our eyes and brains! 

The exciting world under the sea! You'll get to learn about some interesting specimens such as sharks, dolphins and sea-turtles, and will get the chance to dissect fish to see how they differ from humans. 

You'll also get the chance to examine seaweeds, limpets and more and learn why they're  important to sea-life surviving. 

Mechanical Engineering combines the principles of physics and material science. 

It includes design and manufacturing. On this course students are likely to encounter the use of computer-aided design in the development of different mechanical systems. 

Students will learn how this branch of engineering has brought about aircrafts, robotics, medical devices and transportation systems. 

This hands-on course will be of interest to students who have an interest in engineering and design. 

This exciting course will bring the student on a fascinating journey of human health. 

It will cover both ways to keep you healthy such as nutrition, exercise and laughter! 

It will also explain how modern medicine can help people recover from illness - from first-aid to hospital care. 

The course will trace the evolution of medicine from ancient times (where electric eels were used to numb patients!) to the present day where high tech diagnostic equipment (MRI / X-rays) allow doctors to help even more people than before. 

Discover how your heart beats, how your muscles move, what headaches are and how Aspirin makes pain disappear. 

Did you know that you have bacteria living inside and outside your body, and some of these microbes are good and bad for you. 

On this course you'll get to grow your own bacteria that was found on agar plates, as well as extracting DNA from fruit. 

You'll also learn about some exotic bacteria and viruses that hopefully you'll never get or you'll end up in quarantine!

Famine, disaster, war, epidemic and the environment; at the Model United Nations you will learn much about world politics through real life situations.

Learning the skills of debate and negotiation, you will put forward your case for your country. Discuss, confer, bargain, agree, collaborate and cooperate with other countries. 

This is real world politics and every decision will have immense consequences. This course will suit students who have an interest in debating and are concerned with world justice and fairness. 

This computer science based course will introduce current technology found in the computer science industry with an emphasis on multimedia computing and web design. 

Each class will consist of theoretical and practical parts.The practical side of the class will see the students creating their own websites and manipulating multimedia in digital format. The theoretical side of the course will focus on technology and literature reviews of several domains of computer science, including: computer forensics, security, the Internet and network computing, computer gaming and digital entertainment and foundations of computer science.

Students will be taken through the most common settings on digital cameras and learn what is going on ‘behind the scenes’. 

In each class, they will learn about different photographic techniques and put what they have learned into practice. 

They will then learn about some photo editing techniques, and utilise their new skills on their own pictures. 

A practical beginner’s photography course covering concepts such as positioning, composition, aperture, shutter speed and sensitivity, with some basic digital editing. 

Students should bring their own digital camera with them to class.

Uncover your ancestry on this new genealogy course. 

Here, students will be guided individually on how to source information from living relatives, national archives as well as other primary and secondary sources to piece together the story of those who went before them. 

As well as an ongoing individual project over the course of the eight weeks, students will explore the heredity of notable individuals. Did you know that Britney Spears was related to former US presidential candidate John Edwards? Or that Brad Pitt and Barack Obama are 9th cousins? We bet you didn’t know that actor Tom Hanks is a descendant of Abraham Lincoln. 

Learn about these and other fascinating connections. By the end of the course students should have a comprehensive family tree created and the research skills to further add to their own personal history.

Calling all Muggles: Did you know that you too can play quidditch and perform feats of magic? 

As well as some fun practical activities, students will delve into the mythical world of Harry Potter and will deconstruct the books to find links between Harry's world and our own: examining topics such as whether snakes and owls really are mystical beasts; whether there is any proof of the existence of goblins and fairies; and if the so-called witches and wizards in our society have anything in common with the wizards and witches in Hogwarts.

This course will look at the greatest scientific marvel of all - Life on Earth.

We will explore the world of great beasts on earth (saber tooth tigers, woolly mammoths). The course will document the great diversity of life on modern earth - from the mighty blue whale in the seas to the animals of the great plains. 

We will also look at the wild world of Ireland and show the student that even at home, the more you know, the more you see. 

The human body is an intricate tapestry of secrets, balancing the gory with the glorious. In this course, we uncover those secrets: why does it hurt when you fall? How do we hear and speak? How do our muscles function? 

Most importantly, we examine what happens when something goes wrong. By analysing both the body and the brain, students will develop a foundational understanding of human biology. Engaging, practical activities are integrated throughout.

This is a practical, hands-on course designed to spark scientific curiosity. Students will explore a range of experimental elements, moving from fundamental concepts like solutions and mixtures to the speed of chemical reactions and the core structure of chemical bonds.

In a world deeply integrated with digital technology, imagining life without computing is nearly impossible. 

This course prompts students to look beyond video games and explore how computers drive global innovation—from launching rockets into space to assisting with delicate surgical procedures. Participants will test their skills, discover new ways to utilise technology, and learn basic problem-solving and programming principles.

This course introduces students to the core principles underlying the field of engineering. From the development of microchips to the mechanics of rocket science, engineers shape the modern world. 

Through a strong practical element, students will examine engineering in everyday life and construct their own model bridges.

Does your child have the spirit of the great polar explorer Tom Crean? 

For those eager to discover the mechanics of trekking through vast deserts, navigating jungles, or understanding global landscapes, this course offers an immersive guide. Students will analyse exotic environments, learn vital survival principles, and discover the importance of environmental conservation. The curriculum includes historical case studies of famous explorers alongside interactive activities.

Delve deep into the past with this gruesome, fascinating historical journey. 

Students will uncover significant global events and eras through an entirely fresh lens. This course explores some of the most dramatic periods in history, from the Roman Empire to the World Wars. Utilising both literary texts and interactive technology, the sessions bring history alive in a vivid, memorable format.

Are there snakes in Ireland? Does Funghi the dolphin truly enjoy human company? This course explores the rich wildlife native to Irish shores, spanning marine life off the Dublin coast to the creatures inhabiting our native forests and hills. The journey concludes with a digital safari exploring exotic animals and their global habitats.